WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Chase Elliott made a triumphant statement in his return to the NASCAR Cup Series’ season-opening exhibition race, winning the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday night. Elliott, who started on the pole, fended off a hard-charging Ryan Blaney to take the checkered flag before a sold-out, raucous crowd at the legendary quarter-mile track.
Masterfully navigating lapped traffic in the final stretch of the 200-lap event, Elliott secured victory with a 1.333-second lead over Blaney, who impressively climbed from the back of the field after starting last on a driver points provisional.
The win marked Elliott’s first Clash victory and the event’s inaugural return to Bowman Gray after a three-year stint at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Piloting the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Elliott embraced the significance of NASCAR’s return to the storied short track—absent from the Cup Series for 54 years.
“This place has a deep history in NASCAR, and I think it deserves an event like this,” said Elliott, who dominated 171 of 200 laps. “I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as I did. Hopefully, we get to come back.”
The Battle for the Win
Denny Hamlin briefly stole the spotlight, leading 28 laps after overtaking Elliott on Lap 96, but the No. 11 Toyota driver couldn’t hold on. Elliott reclaimed the lead on Lap 126, setting up a duel with Blaney, who surged into second by Lap 147.
However, Blaney’s No. 12 Team Penske Ford tightened up in the closing laps, preventing him from making a serious bid for the lead. Though within striking distance, he opted not to use aggressive tactics against Elliott, NASCAR’s seven-time Most Popular Driver.
“I wasn’t going to bulldoze him and get chased out of here with pitchforks,” Blaney joked. “I just didn’t have quite enough grip at the end to make a move.”
Clash Top 10 Finishers
Behind Elliott and Blaney, Joey Logano secured fourth place, followed by Bubba Wallace, who powered through from 14th on the grid. The top 10 finishers included:
- Chase Elliott
- Ryan Blaney
- Denny Hamlin
- Joey Logano
- Bubba Wallace
- Ross Chastain
- Austin Cindric
- Tyler Reddick
- Shane van Gisbergen
- Chris Buescher
Last Chance Drama
The Last Chance Qualifier provided its own share of action, as Kyle Larson stormed from 10th to first in a caution-filled 75-lap race to earn a spot in the Clash. Larson seized the lead from Josh Berry on Lap 72, clinching one of the final two transfer spots in dramatic fashion.
Despite leading 36 laps, Larson’s race wasn’t without trouble. After a collision with Erik Jones and Berry, his No. 5 Hendrick Chevrolet suffered significant damage. He ultimately finished 17th in the main event, while Berry, who also advanced, placed 13th.
“It got pretty rough,” Berry admitted. “But that’s Bowman Gray—it’s the ‘Madhouse.’”
Elliott’s victory kicks off the NASCAR Cup Series season with a thrilling short-track spectacle, signaling a promising year ahead
